Since being released by Tampines Rovers at the end of the season, Ahmad Latiff have being searching for a new employer and it is believed Woodlands Wellington have offered him a deal.

The 34-year-old have played for Woodlands Wellington for 3 years in 2004 to 2005 as well as the 2007 season.

Unfortunately, he tainted his last season with the club despite winning the club first silverware - League Cup - at that time as even after being named skipper at the start of the 2007 season to reward him for his senior position, he did not show it as he was banned for a number of games especially towards the middle of the season when he clashed with referee S.Kumar and was send off for shoving him which led to a lengthy ban.

After that, the club released him despite the season not ending yet

Since then, he appeared to have clam down as shown with Tampines Rovers where he has played a part in the club last two titles win.

It is why Woodlands Wellington may welcome this Ahmad Latiff more than the one in 2007 despite the fact former international may be at his peak then rather than now.

As a paper - OK, it is TODAY - ,despite having the resources available to them, have shown they do not know the number of Singaporean internationals at Tampines, here a list of current and past ones for the upcoming season.

Home United have retain forward Indra Sahdan and Masrezwan Masturi for the upcoming season.

Even with the inclusion of winger cum forward Jordan Webb as well as the capture of Warriors Aliff Shafaein, Home United forward line still look weak and is unlikely to score enough goals to sustain a title challenge.

That why the 4 remaining foreign slots for Home United looked crucial as one of them have to foreign forward who can notch the goals like Mendy did for the Bishan club for the last two seasons.

Or else it is hard to see how Home United can challenge as currently their attack looked too weak to pose any danger to mid-tier teams as alone fellow challengers SAFFC, Tampines or DPMM.

I wonder how much we can trust from this report, as again poor
knowledge/basic error shown by the writer. Sasa is croatian, not
macedonian

It show the high standard fans demand of all their reporting from the mainstream media as we have to remember the media ask for Singapore football to uphold high standard so we are not asking anything more than what the media ask of others.

Woodlands Wellington have signed custodian Yazid Yasin and midfielder Atsushi Shimono for the upcoming season .

Yazid Yasin have been released by a Geylang management looking to renew their squad and the Rams was quick to secure the services of a player who have total of 124 appearances for the Rams before leaving for the Eagles in 2008.

As for Atsushi Shimono, he has been in the S-league for the past four season with Albirex Niigata (S) and in that time, has helped Albirex to win the League Cup in 2011 and finished third last season with his accomplished vision and distribution of the ball lending a touch of class to the midfield.

That was why he was a popular target when Albirex decided it was time to let him go with Woodlands have to tussled with Tanjong Pagar to get him.

With Lionel Lewis retired, Shahril Jantan can filled up the keeper role while No Rahman can do a job a defensive anywhere in defence or midfield. As for Aliff Shafaein, he is a player who can do a job coming off the bench if needed as well as when he start a game.

Moreira has represented Portugal at the Under-20 and Under-21 level while
Auvray, who captains his national team, formerly laced up for Major
League Soccer outfit New York Red Bulls. His profile describes him as a
"defensive midfielder known for his aggressive tackling."

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Syria has won their first West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Championship.

They defeat 2007 Asian Cup champions Iraq on penalties in the Final after both sides drew 1-1 at full time and despite another 30 minutes of extra time, the team could not tear each other apart.

The WAFF championship had started out as a competition meant for teams not included in the Gulf Cup although in recent years Gulf Cup teams are also playing in the competition with only Qatar and UAE missing out this year.

11 teams from West Asia including powerhouse like Saudi Arabia and Iran played in this year edition.

At the same time, Oman, who are in the same Asian Cup group as Singapore, has reach the WAFF Championship semi-final stage showing they are no pushover either for they are in the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers final group stage for the Asian Zone and they have the same points as second-place and automatic World Cup qualifying spot Australia.

Jordan had been knocked out in the WAFF championship group stage but the Jordanian reach the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers final group stage for the Asian Zone and despite being last they are only 1 point away from Oman and second-placed Australia.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Singapore has taken a huge lead to Bangkok as they defeated heavy favourite Thailand 3-1 at Jalan Besar.

Mustafic Fahrudin, named Man of the Match by a number of media sources, gave Singapore the lead as he scored from a spot kick after Duric was fouled in the box.

With Mustafic Fahrudin showing why he was named Man of the Match by a number of media sources for keeping Thai playmaker Teerasil Dangda quiet, the Lions should have scored a second before the break but it did not come about.

After half-time, the Thai nearly make Singapore pay as they equalised but Khairul Amri off a Duirc cross scored almost immediately for the home side to take the lead for the second time.

Singapore continue to play impressively and earn their third goals as Thai keeper flagged the last corner of the game in injury time and Baihakki pound on the mistake to give Singapore a healty two-goal lead for the reutrn leg in Bangkok in 3 days time.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

It seem despite cutting their budget by 45%, the club still have financial difficulties and owed their players up to 4 months of their wages.

That is why the club have gone to the Ho Chi Minh City authorities for help but have received no reply.

Even if the Vietnamese club, in the end, participate in the upcoming V-league season, one cannot see how they compete in the AFC Cup as the competition will require participating clubs to spend money on competing and until the Final, one may not end up financial better.

V-league clubs have been suffering financial difficulties for the past year as a result of Vietnam economy problems which have seem their source of income (Their owners deep pocket and transfer fees) disappear.

After being released by Home, Singapore international Qiu Li has join Balestier Khalsa for the upcoming season.

Having achieved their best results, since the merger in 2003, with a sixth placed finish as well as winning the Plate Cup, Balestier are looking for even better results in 2013.

That why they are looking to plug their weakness last season as even with those good results and that was a lacked of firepower.

Qiu Li can get them those extra goals they desired if he can keep fit as the 31-year -old have fought fitness problems at his last clubs - Tampines and Home - who both released him for the same reasons.

Considered by many to be the hero of 09 as Geylang won their first trophy, RHB Singapore Cup, in 9 years, Yazid Yasin has been released by the club.

The custodian had performed brilliantly throughout the 09 season especially en-route to the Singapore Cup as the Eagles, then under Mike Wong, was noted for it ability to grind out results rather than any flair they might display.

And in the Final, it was no different as the team sat back to absorb whatever Bangkok Glass can dish out before sending the sucker punch.

However, if it was not for brilliant after brilliant saves by Yazin before that, the tie will have been lost.

Still with the club seeking a new direction, the custodian time at the club has come to an end.

At the same time, foreigners Michael King and Mun Seung-Man have also been released by Geylang.

The 50-year-old is delighted to be back at coaching as he has taken a
six months break since departing 4th div side AFC Compiegne.

Despite a bottom Two finish in the last two seasons, the Frenchman is seeking a mid-table finishing and promising to do so by playing the brand of attractive football like Etoile according to S-league website.

Under his reign, I would say relationship with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has gone sour thanks to his misjudgement.

Looked at history, AFC ended it unofficial ban on Singapore hosting AFC competition (They refused to let Singapore host 1993 WCQ Final group as well as 1997 WCQ between Iran and Japan) under the reign of Mah Bow Tan and then under Assoc Pro Ho Peng Kee, we received not just ACL spot but also got two allocation of FIFA GOAL money with AFC help.

What the difference then.

First, they did not humliate AFC like our current President who decided to announce to the world, before informing them, we are pulling out of the ACL race in 2010.

Second, both previous President understand the need to not just talk with AFC but also keep continue contact with the power-in-charge for that was why DPMM Brunei was allowed in the S-league at start of 2009 before our current FAS President who took charge at March of that year forgot.

Indeed, he was cut short immediately when DPMM Brunei was banned later in the year and like now in the ACL slot battle he could only react.

That a reason why Thai Premier League has come out unscathed as their Football Assoication of Thailand (FAT) President
Worawi Makudi is a pro at such work.

He is not a member of FIFA and AFC exco for nothing as he even got England to travel all the way around the globe play a friendly with Thailand with him earning all the money.

That why I am celebrating the end of a FAS president who does not work for anything for like SMRT CEO, he is always missing when trouble brew.

So from what I gather, the ACL qualifiers will see S-league, V-league, Thai Premier League and AFC Cup champions/runner-up in the first round with Chinese Super League and A-league waiting in the next and final round for the winners.

There may also be a big revamp to the upcoming ACL according to more reports with an AFC Conference this week set to discuss these issues.

Increase on Asian Player spots - Clubs in the ACL may register
3 Non-Asian Foreigners and 3 Asian Foreigners (3+3)

Not allowing ACLQ losers to play in the AFC Cup

A new age-group competition - U18 AFC Champions League

While delighted Tampines Rovers can play in the ACL if the Chinese media are right, I am not sure about the fact AFC may cancel the rights of the ACLQ losers to play in the AFC Cup especially as Asian club competition still does not command the full attention of the media in this region and still building itself so restricting it to fewer teams will not help

Amid all the talk on Singapore win against Malaysia, I just want a word on Shaiful Esah as he appeared to have suffered a terrible injury in the game.

Even in the best case, it looked like he will be out of the Suzuki Cup and that is what I hope for and I am not cursing him but if it was any longer, he may be in a spot of trouble.

From reports, it seem he has not sign a contract with anybody yet and is only negotiating with clubs so with such a terrible injury from the looks of thing as he reach to call for medical help immediately after the tackle, it is bad and whether he can come back within weeks is a problem.

This is for a sad case of what I think should have been avoided and next time FAS need to remember we are talking about livelihood here.

FAS need to tell players early if they want to retain them or not as frankly the time frame is too short and too late as contract talks start as early as September in cases.

After all, FAS head man is not just from PAP but also an ex-labour movement leader and the government and the labour movement constantly tell the employers that it should give employees ample notice so that they can find new job (or in this case new club) sooner.

But by delaying until November, we are seeing what we are seeing now and players may be without a contract come the new season as clubs have filled their roasters and some players even from the LIONSXII are anxious as not everybody is in demand and not every clubs have the resources to get all the players they want and they have to choose early as they need to build a team for their coach.

So if Shaiful Esah is out for a while then it is FAS fault and they have to pick up the tab and not push it to clubs like so many cases one see before.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The year is 2012 but it may as well be decades ago as frankly information age or not, FAS is not there yet.

Until now, nearly a week after the Philippines matchup in Cebu, information on that match is 'impressively' still unavailable.

Indeed fans are still searching for information on that match as seem by the quote below from civotarum.

I have spent more than an hour searching the web looking for match stats for the phillipines singapore game.

All I can find is the starting lineup, and goalscorer. This is incomplete and I badly need the substitutions made to calculate the caps. Can anybody help???

If this was the only issue, one can say it is a one-time mistake and people should be more forgiving but let looked at S-league TV channel.

Do anybody noticed something!!!

If one is sharp, they can see the Tampines championship winning game against Harimau Muda that was put up by the S-league TV channel over a week ago is from May and there is no match of the November game.

The November game is surely the most important one of the season as it was the game that saw Tampines lift the trophy and yet on the official TV channel, one cannot find it.

The season end in November; which of course mean the number of eyeball dropped but does it mean FAS can then do a half fuck job.

It is a half fuck job as far as far as I am concern because they did not complete it and it tell me about the lacked of commitment of FAS as immediately after the season ended, such errors crept in where information are left out or ignored.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

S-league Chief Executive Officer Lim Chin have revealed to S-league website that S-league bottom two will still be hit next year even if the S$30,000 and S$50,000 penalty does not happen.

Although at this point, it seem it is still being discussed by Strategic Business Unit (SBU).

He is quoted: “We cannot have the relegation trapdoor, but we will still introduce
something to the bottom teams, where the last two will see a loss in
terms of subsidies and incentives provided by the SBU to them the
following season.”

While he is unwilling to give more details on this matter, he was more forthcoming on the rewards for the new fitness test.

Instead of simply having players try to meet the minimum standard,
however, the authorities have created monetary rewards for those who
post good running times.

Any player who can complete the run within exactly nine minutes will
receive a reward of S$100, while for those who manage to go under eight
minutes and 30 seconds, the money is doubled to S$200.

SAFFC won their first trophy since 2009 and their fifth Singapore Cup; matching their Uniform rival Home United record.

It nearly never happen as they were make to pay for an own goal by the usually reliable Shahril Jantan as a misjudgment of a cross meant he punch it into his own net.

After that the Warriors found it hard to punch a hole in the Stags defence but as the match drag on, the Stags pull back their punches more and more as they decided to close shop so they could focus on the league title battle in 5 days time as well.

They were make to pay as Shimpei Sakurada scored from a scramble in the box from a corner.

After that, the Stags found it hard to get back on track and were waiting for the whistle to regroup but they were not given that chance as a master stroke by the soon-to-depart Richard Bok won the Warriors the cup.

He brought on forward Erwan Gunawan and the sub did not disappoint as he will notch the winner in injury-time and the Cup was going to Choa Chu Kang.

Champions, Tampines Rovers, show how much they want yo win the S-league title once again as they staged an amazing comeback against SAFFC.

The Eastern giant were behind at the early of the second period with Warriors snatching the lead through Shimpei Sakurada. The Champions were level within 15 minutes through Ahmad Latiff.

But with the need to win, they had to go forward and take forward and with 6 minutes left, the Warriors took advantage and retake the lead once again through Fazrul Nawaz.

It was a disaster and the best the most optimistic fan must be just to avoid defeat.
They got that thanks to a Benoit Croissant stunner and that is where also ran and champions material are differentiate as the defending champions refused to give up chasing for the full 3 points.

They got it in injury-time as Jamil Ali once again got off the bench to contribute a valuable goal that may well give the Champions the title once more.

Monday, November 5, 2012

cant help but feel, some reporters/columnists are just shooting off
their mouth without doing any research, nor have much knowledge of the
league... I guess it just shows the level of interest/passion they have
for the league

just an example, leonard thomas wrote in TNP yesterday that for the
second successive year, the champions of Singapore's domestic
professional club competition will be decided in the final week of the
campaign.

Firstly, it is still not known whether the title will be decided in the
final week. As long as DPMM fails to get at least 4 points against
Woodlands on Sunday and against Hougang on Wednesday, the league title
is Tampines'.

Secondly, it is definitely not the second successive year, I still
remember 2010, when the title was decided on the final day, Etoile was
initially trailing against I think Albirex, and with Tampines leading in
their game, the title was for a moment going to Tampines. But Etoile
came back in the second half to win.

I cant remember 2009 (whether it could have been more than 'three'
successive years), but if I am going to write a column in a newspaper, I
will definitely do some research first.

And here from me pointing out they might as copy from others as they are not that good

Saturday, October 27, 2012

3 teams went into the weekend games with a shot at the title thanks to Albirex 4-3 win over Tampines Rovers 3 days.

In the end, only one, DPMM Brunei, came out of it still with a shot There was always going to be a team who will drop out as DPMM were squaring off against Home at Hassanal Bolkiah National.

It was a match neither can lose for this meant the end of their season as a whole. The door was open to them but who can take advantage as they have to win this encounter and a draw will do neither good.

So both came to attack and it was the visitors, Home United, who showed the deadly touch as they went 2-0 up within half-time thanks to Shi JiaYi and Frederic Mendy.

After the break, it was another story as Shahrazen Said, Patrick Da Silva and Adi Said gave DPMM the lead and if a coach was judged by the brave decision he make then Croatian coach Vjeran Simunic showcased it.

He took off his top scorer and scorer of the first DPMM goal, Shahrazen Said, to make way for Adi Said and the substitute repay the faith of the coach as he was the one who got the winning goal.

With that, Home United title challenge was over and soon to follow was Harimau Muda.

The Malaysian side saw their challenge ended by Gombak United, the bogey side of title challengers.

The Bulls had stalled DPMM Brunei challenge earlier in the month and then did it against Tampines Rovers in their last match and now it was the turn of Muda.

This time, it was costly as the Malaysian side title challenge was gone as they went down 1-2.

Zulfadhli Emran and Jung Hee Bong got the goals for the Bulls while Wan Zack Haikal reply for the Malaysians.

In another match, Hougang drew 2-2 with SAFFC.

Jordan Webb and Azhar Sairudin got the goals for Hougang while Mislav Karoglan and Shimpei Sakurada reply for the Warriors.

Champions Tampines Rovers failed to close up the title race as they were held to a draw by Gombak.

This mean Tampines have to beat Albirex in 4 days time to end all talks about any challenge on the title.

It should not have been the case as Sead Hadzibulic gave the Stags the lead in the first half but the Eastern giant was unable to close the game. They pay for it as Bulls pull back on level towards the end through ex Eagles Hafiz Rahim.

It gave DPMM an opening as the Brunei side climb up to second.

DPMM have a game in hand and are 7 points behind the defending champions. Win their game in hand and it is only 4 while the top 2 clashed in their next meeting and any result other than a win for Tampines will benefit DPMM.

The Brunei side thrash Tanjong Pagar 3-0 with goals from Shahrazen Said and Ivan Jerkovic (2)